Step 1: Get rid of those teeny lines

Not the best news: Eyes age 36 percent faster than the rest of the face, because of repetitive movements (squinting, smiling), and lines can pop up in your early 20s, Olay researchers say. But don't freak!

The solution to those teeny lines? An eye-specific retinoid treatment (full-face versions can be too harsh), like Philosophy Miracle Worker Retinoid Eye Repair, $65, used nightly. It stimulates cell turnover and boosts the production of collagen, part of the structural support system that keeps skin smooth.

Step 2: Try this trick to brighten up

Too many drinks, too little sleep and Mom are only partly to blame for tired-looking eyes. Dark circles get most of their color from excess melanin, per Clinique research. Skin naturally contains this pigment, but UV exposure sends production into overdrive, causing buildup.

One way to brighten up is to dot lightener on bare skin in the a.m. under sunscreen and makeup.